Letters to the editor, 12/06

Withhold criticism of Schumer for now

Last season I lost 48 out of 51 acres of onions at the worst possible time, putting me more than $300,000 in debt to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came to my farm to inspect the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and conveyed that he would fight tooth and nail for a vitally needed ad hoc crop-loss program. I have been down to Washington, D.C., numerous times since and in contact with his staff, as well as my other representatives, and I can assure that all of these offices fought very aggressively for such assistance. It was blocked by House of Representatives' leadership.

There is now talk to add a disaster program for the farmers who suffered the drought this season to be added to the farm bill and Sen. Schumer and the others are aggressively fighting for this program to extend back to August of 2011 so we would be included. In my 13 years of dealing with Sen. Schumer and his staff, I don't believe it is in his DNA to state what farmer Paul Wigsten claims Sen. Schumer told him, that there was "nothing the government could do to help me out." ("Crops or conference rooms?" Nov. 25).

I fully support the new Food & Beverage Alliance. Nothing prevents Sen. Schumer from securing this grant and continuing to fight for vitally needed crop-loss aid, which he is doing. We should hold the criticism until we see how things play out.

Chris Pawelski

Goshen

District needs Beretta to shake up status quo

I am endorsing Jim Beretta, who is running for Arlington Fire District commissioner.

I have regularly been attending Arlington Board of Fire Commissioners meetings for more than two years - Jim has been attending those meetings for over three years. I have seen firsthand how Jim has addressed numerous fire district budget line items and also public law regarding the present status quo way of doing business at the Arlington Fire District. You cannot imagine how much we the taxpayers need him representing us on the Board of Fire Commissioners.

The present Board of Fire Commissioners is made up of two retired paid firemen and three volunteer firemen. The other individual running to fill the seat had been a longtime Fire District member, but has not attended any of the Board of Fire Commissioners meetings that I have been at in the past two years. Also, his son is a paid Arlington firefighter.

We the taxpayers do not need more firemen holding office in the district.

Jim is honorable, sincere and strong on issues regarding your tax dollars - very worthy of your vote. Jim Beretta is a write-in candidate for the Arlington Board of Fire Commissioners. Write him in as "Jim Beretta."

Post this on your refrigerator and vote on Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. Information on where to vote can be found at www.afd.org.

Tony Ferrari

Poughkeepsie

Gibson should keep cuts for middle class, not rich

As our representative, U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, should set aside partisan differences - and the silly pledge he signed to unelected Grover Norquist - and vote immediately to make the tax cuts for people earning up to $250,000 a year permanent, and decouple these taxes from taxes on people making more than $250,000 a year.

Other matters can be decided later in the new Congress in a much less frenetic environment. But since everyone agrees the middle-class tax cuts should be continued, do it now.

It would be shameful for a congressman to put the concerns of Grover Norquist - and American Crossroads and the Koch brothers for whom he is fronting - ahead of the wishes of the majority of the American people.

Ed and Christine Reno

Salt Point

Foreign aid goes to potential U.S. enemies

At a time when taxpayers are facing a fiscal cliff, the consequences of Sandy, possible new taxes and possible new higher rates, threats to Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs, should taxpayers be asked to support foreign countries, some of whom are not friends of America, such as Egypt, which does not support American values? The Muslim Brotherhood, which supports Mohammed Morsi, has indicated that Israel is Egypt's No. 1 enemy and America is Egypt's second enemy and both should be removed from the face of the earth.

Is it time to suspend foreign aid and help America first?

H. Clark Bell

Woodstock

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Letters to the editor, 12/06

Last season I lost 48 out of 51 acres of onions at the worst possible time, putting me more than $300,000 in debt to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Sen.